Garment



Patented Sept. 17, 1946 GARMENT Joseph J. Kispert, New Haven, Conn., assigner to I. Newman & Sons, Inc., New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut ,Application September 17, 1942, Serial No. 458,659

2 Claims.

This invention relates to supporting garments, and more particularly to garments of the corset type which, While suitable for normal use, are particularly adapted to be worn during pregnancy.

An object of the invention is to provide a garment which is adapted to be expanded readily without adjusting, and which, by adjustment, may be further altered to accommodate the figure. Present day garments adapted for maternity wear are clumsy and awkward, and generally not suited for a woman who prefers a light compact garment. Moreover, due to the present shortage of rubber, garments of this type are restricted in their llexibility, Y

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a light compact garment which will be simple in construction, but which will provide the proper support to the abdomen and, at the same time, control the bones and muscles of the sacro-iliac section.

A still further object is to provide a garment which will have an abdominal supporting section which may be exibly positioned with 'relation to the balance of the garment without upsetting the support rendered by the balance of the garment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garment which may be simply and completely fitted to support the figure, particularly during the pre-natal period, to make allowance for the unusual strains and temporary deformations of the muscle and bone structure during this period. Further, the garment may be adjusted during this period, not only to allow for expansion in the abdominal region, but to allow for changes in the hip sections.

Further objects will be apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing- Fig. 1 is a perspective rear View of the garment on the wearer;

Fig. 2 is a view of the back of the garment;

Fig. 3 is a front View of the garment; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional enlarged View taken on the line i of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the modication showing a slightly dierent form of closure.

My garment l! is made up of a rear section H and side sections l2 and i4, and may be pro-` vided with the usual flexible stays i5. The sections l2 and i4 veer upwardly toward the fro-nt to their edges I6 and Il. It will be seen that the rear section thus forms a skirt to cover and control the buttocks without restricting the thighs at the front,

The edges It and Il are provided with eyelets 26 through which extend tapes 2l, The tapes 2i at one end are fastened to an abdominal supporting section 22, adapted to be po 'tioned over and control the abdomen. The otl r ends of tapes 2l are fastened to the and 25, which may be provided with flexible stays 2e* and lacing hooks 25. Protecting sections of light fabric 2l and 23 connect the abdominal snp porting section 22 to the edges of the side members i2 and lli. These sections are of sniiioient length to allow the garment to ce expanded so that the wearer may step into it and pull it over the hips, and are of sufcientlightness to avoid discomfort due to wrinkles while the garment is adjusted. Laces 29 are provided to engage he lacing hooks 26 to draw the flaps 23 and 24 to gether, in the usual manner.

The lacing hooks 26 are set in a flexible tape and are reinforced by the criss-cross stitches 42 so that the hooks may adjust themselves to conform more readily to the contours of the body.

As manufactured, the back section l l is basted to the side sections l2 and It, at 3% and 311. The side sections l2 and Ul have extensions 32 and 33. The inner ends of the sections I2 and l :and the sections 32 and S3 are provided with diverging lines 35 and 35.

When the garment is fitted, the tter determines which of the lines 35 or 35 would form the proper seam for junction of the back and side sections, and then stitches these sections together at that point. As the circumference of the body Varies during pregnancy, the garment may be ripped out and expanded accordingly.

In use, the wearer steps into the garment and pulls it over the hips. The naps 23 and 24 are then pulled together to take up the excess expansion and then may be laced rmly to position the garment in place. Since the tapes 2l are free to slide in the eyelets 2i), the position of the abdominal supporting section 22 with relation to the rest of the garment is self-adjusting.

Moreover, due to the nature of the abdominal supporting section 22, and the fact that tapes 2l are free to slide in the eyelets 2i), the longitudinal position of the abdominal supporting section with relation to the side portions may be Varied considerably. The edges of the abdominal supporting section and the edges I6 and ll of the side sections will not at all times be parallel. If, for instance, more room is needed at the top lil of the abdominal supporting section than at the bottom 4i, the abdominal supporting section 22 may be expanded accordingly, by the sliding of the greater portion of the upper tapes toward the vest side of the eyelets. It will be seen, therefore, that the abdominal supporting section 22 may be positioned through a number of degrees to render the proper abdominal support Without aifecting the tension on the side sections or the support which the side section gives to the hips and buttocks, thus avoiding undue strain on the hips or back.

In the modification shown in Fig. the vest section 22 is in two sections with a section 45 provided with hooks 46 and eyes 41 so as the garment may be placed on the body by wrapping around the hips rather than; stepping through the center thereof and pulling it over the hips. In all other respects the modification operates in the same manner as the form shown in the other figures. It will be appreciated that additional openings and lacings may be inserted in the garment for adjustment purposes wherever desired.

I claim: ,g

1. A step-in maternity garment comprising an elongated back section covering the Wearers buttocks, side sections with marginal portions in overlapping relation to said back section and temporarily secured thereto by basting` the marginal portions ofY said side sections being provided with downwardly diverging gauge lines serving as guides in stitching the sections together more permanently when the garment is fitted, a short unitary abdomen supporting front section extending only to the lower part of the vabdomen and loosely connected to the forward edges of the side sections by tapes passing through eyelets therein, lacing naps secured to the opposite ends of said tapes and provided with exible stays and lacing hooks, protecting sections of light fabric underlying said tapes and stitched to the forward edges of the side sections and the side edges of the front section, said protecting sections and said tapes being of sufcient length to permit the garment to be pulled over the wearers hips, and laces cooperating with the lacing hooks to tighten the garment as desired.

2. A maternity garment comprising an elongated back section covering the wearers buttocks, side sections with marginal portions in overlapping relation to said back section and temporarily secured thereto by basting, the marginal portions of said side sections being provided with downwardly diverging gauge lines serving as guides in stitching the sections together more permanently when the garment is tted, a short abdomen supporting front'section extending only to the lower part of the abdomen and loosely connected to the forward edges of the side sections by tapes passing through eyelets therein, lacing flaps secured to the opposite ends of said tapes and provided with exible stays and lacing hooks, protecting sections of Vlight fabric underlying said tapes and 'stitched to the forward edges of the side sections and the side edges of the front sections, and laces cooperating with` the lacing hooks to tighten the garment as desired.

JOSEPH J. KISPERT. 

